A Radical change...

So, every year for almost a DECADE, we've been doing a WINTER RETREAT the first weekend of each year with our PCC young adults. It's always been a great time being together, sitting around by the fire, singing, praying, and of course snowboarding. Watch videos of some of the past years here:

2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI6KYFnOTls

2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvkoY6TKpgg

2007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmH14mrxp1I

2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mRa82wuG1Q&feature=related


But after reading RADICAL by David Platt, and really wrestling with what it means to FOLLOW JESUS this season, I sensed God leading our ministry to make a radical decision.  Instead of going to the mountains to shred some snow this season, we'll be walking the streets, praying, showing grace and preparing the way for God's kingdom in one of of the most needy places in our Bay Area: The Tenderloin of SAN FRANCISCO. (It was chapter 3,  5 & 6 of Radical specifically that challenged me).

JANUARY 6-8 2012 come SERVE...come FOLLOW JESUS..and expand God's kingdom by praying, showing grace, and discipling the Tenderloin w/a great ministry called SF City Impact.

I want to be the Church. I want to disciple and multiply community. I want to see God's power. I want to love the poor and sacrifice my time and resources for the glory of God. It was evident that our young adults were also craving this, too! So, I thought this season we could do without a trip focused on us having fun in the comfort of our traditional winter cabins with fireplaces, to join a radical movement, a church seeking to radically love the poor.


THE MOST amazing part is our friend AUTUMN BUZZELL, currently serving in Ghana will be back in California for the same weekend with her mission leaders John and Stacy to join us and spend time sharing stories and preparing us for our MAY 2012 mission to CITY OF REFUGE, serving and loving on African orphans and kids who've been rescued from being trafficked into the fishing industry. How radical is that???  Ghana and the Tenderloin. Sharing stories with people in San Francisco being freed from addiction and violence with what God is doing and how he is rescuing and transforming people across the world in Africa from slavery to freedom.


The schedule will be something like:
Team time, Worship gatherings, sharing stories with fellow SF City Impact friends,
City of Refuge (John, Stacy, Autumn) teach us what God is doing in Ghana, music, etc.
Work in the Rescue Mission, Volunteer Center, Kitchen, Thrift Store or  Construction  and
Street Ministry (prayer walking, door to door showing grace: meeting immediate physical needs, laying hands on people for healing, etc).







MORE INFO on this serving retreat AFTER THE FALL RETREAT (Nov 18-20 at Mt. Hermon).

Renewed

Someone from our church family took a picture of me while I was leading one of our PCC worship gatherings Sunday. It's rare that I'm in a tie but here's some proof. Our 9am gatherings are more traditional and so music and dress a more traditional expression. (I love how my hands in are in the "prayer position," it almost looks staged).

I spoke through Colossians 3 emphasizing verse 23 as part of our summer RENEW focus.
To listen go to http://www.wearepcc.com/#/sundays/messages

Whatever you do, work at it as though you were working for the Lord and not for human masters.

I was renewed in huge ways this summer through the book of Colossians. God has shown me how to renew my mind to who I am and to who he is! We have the fullness of Christ (2:10) and I want to live this every day, worshiping him in everything I do. We don't have to ask God to give us fullness-we have it already by faith-those of us in Christ. Worship isn't just singing, Church isn't just Sundays in a building. Worship is our life, and the Church is God's people on a radical mission to bless and love the world to see God's kingdom expand! (For more on my church thoughts see: 

http://tonys2cents.blogspot.com/2008/09/rant-on-word-church.html 

Don't "go to" Church part 2


my VLOG on the Church

Casting Call

One of my passions is filmmaking. I love being sets creating stories and seeing art come to life. But I also love being on sets because of all the conversations I get to have with people about God! It is quite a mission field for me!

One of my fave shows is having a contest so I entered!!

It's easy to vote, you just login w/ Facebook or Twitter, or your email! And you can vote very day, once daily, until September 9th.
Vote here:

MAD MEN CASTING CALL
 DIRECTIONS
1-Log-in (Top Right of page using FB, your email, twitter)

2-Create profile (takes 1 min! Don't be alarmed if you're confused! You'll figure it out!).

3-Vote-by pressing RED VOTE TAB under my PIC (SEE # of votes CHANGE & it says "Thanks for Voting.")
YOU DON'T HAVE TO "LIKE" the page, Just "liking" the page doesn't count as a vote.

4-Vote every day around the same time. They clock it
every 24 hours thru your computer. CONTEST ENDS 9/9. It's all about the # of votes. Top 10 highest men & top highest women are entered in Semi-finals.

5-You can invite others to join in on the event, too!

Thanks so much for the shameless self-promotion!
9th place for the men votes as of Sunday 8/28

HUGE THANKS to my good friend John Meyer who took the photo for me!

Much Ado about SOMETHING Amazing!

I tried to turn it down a couple times. My life always seems so full as it is. I shuttered at how much work it would involve volunteering with twelve kids attempting to perform Shakespeare (in the original language), especially twelve kids with English as a second language. And as far as I knew none had ever acted in any capacity before. It seemed quite challenging.  But I'm extremely glad God didn't allow me to miss this opportunity. About six weeks ago, because of the encouragement of a passionate parent/neighbor of mine (Emily Devitis),  I sat down with this local committed teacher, Sarah Coyle, who explained her big dream: to give her kids an opportunity to do something they'd never done before (and might not ever get a chance to do). Due to many school district cuts, public schools have no room for extras, let alone the arts. My heart melted and I agreed to direct this group of 4th and 5th grade students in scenes from Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing."

I first only agreed to one hour a week. The realized it needed to be two, then three hours, and on some weeks four hours with the last week being as much time as I could! And with a lot of prayer we pulled off two performances on Friday and I must say, they nailed it! I was so proud of them. (We have one show left next week. WED JUNE 1, 6-6:30PM ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL). Needless to say I grew in love with them (even when they forget their lines and add lib things about Chuck E.  Cheese and Red Lobster. Yes it happened, and it was one of the funniest moments in the performance).

My mother-in-law painted facial hair for the guys. It added so much and gave them a boost of character.

The backdrop/set was designed and constructed in a great community collaboration (I love this word).
It all started from Emily Devitis (my neighbor) who connected me to the school. Then  she and Jen Alexander (artist extraordinaire) designed/painted the set. It's beautiful.

5th grade Victoria, in blue below, plays Beatrice. She will also get a scholarship to attend Broadway By the Bay's Youth Theatre Conservatory! There was even an article written about her and our production on Patch.com Read it here. http://redwoodcity.patch.com/articles/whiz-kid-performs-shakespearean-comedy.

The kids had never experienced wearing a microphone before. Having amplification added so much to the performance.

 My long time friend, Erica Wyman (actor and director as well, below in the pink), with her Broadway by the Bay connections hooked me with the Boys and Girls' club two years ago. And now she agreed to help partner in this little production. She arranged a great sound system and invited Broadway by The Bay's Development Director Tyler Bennet and Executive Director Jim Gardia, to watch the show. They greeted the kids afterward and just gushed all over them which made the kids feel so amazing! We are so thankful to Broadway by the Bay for covering our costumes, as well! They were a perfect fit for the show!

Afterward I teared up talking w/ the Principal and the BBB staff. God is doing something amazing. I love how he intersects our gifts/passions with the kingdom. This was such a practical way for me to love on our city and bless the schools.

My favorite part was hearing the kids' reactions. They knew they had accomplished something beyond their abilities, they felt good about themselves, experienced teamwork, and they were already dreaming about a "Midsummer Night's Dream for next year"....We'll see about that..

A not-so subtle reminder of Grace

After I returned from lunch I found this note on my car.




"Nest time I we key your car Dummie | your welcome"

Really? I guess Parking one inch ON the line caused some one some grief in their day.

Or who knows maybe I  cut this person off or took the spot they wanted. I have no idea. But getting this note elicited emotions in me. (Enough to blog about it, obviously). Part of me laughed at some of the spelling mistakes and made some assumptions about the person that actually took the time to write the note (For which I'm sorry that my thoughts quickly ran to judgment). Then I was sad to think what it would take to cause a person to choose to use their energy in such a negative way. Then I was humbled. I had to stop thinking about myself as a victim and  think about the person on the other end of the situation. And so I prayed for hope in this person's day. I know my parking job was not responsible for "making" this person angry..perhaps they are feeling low because they are unemployed, going through a hard relationship. lonely, or maybe they have even hurt because other people have called them names. Or what if, this is  extreme, but he/she may be living  under emotional and/or physical abuse from others. Or it could be none of those things.

It could be as simple as this person just made a one time bad choice in the course of his/her day that hurt another person (me),  like I do a lot to other people. And this person needs grace..just like I do for the way I act..and the way I park. God..thank you for reminders like this. Either way, today I pray that this person, that myself, and that every reader of this story knows that we have a creator who loves us and who always gives us second chances when we cross the line--in any and every way. This creator, this savior, this God who loves us will never demean us, and never call us "dummie."

Come see my film. Support the Arts. Support the Poor.

Time...Time to slow down.

I've not made much time to blog lately. Notice the difference: I said I didn't "make" time, not I haven't "had" time. I've had lots of time, but I've had to make the choice to use my time in different ways on many, many other things lately. I'd like to be blogging more, honestly, but I have to sacrifice the long postings for more short updates--as in 140 characters on Twitter or Facebook. It's a humbling realization but I should not be doing as much as I'd like to be doing (or think I'm capable of doing). I have a huge to-do list. And I don't say that for pity, I actually enjoy accomplishing a lot of things and usually take on more things **outside of my job description** because I want to and it feels great, I like to help others, and I feel satisfied in my accomplishments, etc...but I'm seeing that God is teaching me to be careful in all the freedom he's given me. Sometimes he lets us choose all the things we want to do and other times he's clear what he wants us to do and what he doesn't want us to do. Right now, I'm in a season where God is telling me to wait, put things off, let go, and that I have to say NO more often, schedule less, and not be a slave to technology. With that comes accomplishing less and the challenge to keep my worth and identity rooted in Jesus. My worth doesn't come from what I do, but from who God says I am. Ephesians chapters 1-3 declare this loud and clear.

It reminds me of this picture my mom sent me. Check out this car wreck.

The passenger and driver were OK, thankfully. Sometimes I think about my life and how fast I am prone to go...and I'm grateful for the ways God allows me to see the need to stop and just be. Sometimes this comes from times of pain that I have no control over, sometimes it's because I got exhausted taking on too many things, and other times it comes because my kids need me to be dad and run around the house with them.

I don't want to pass these moments by and not learn anything, As if to say, "Whew, that was a close call." Because sometimes it's a lot closer than we think and consequences to disobedience or wrong alignment of priorities way deeper and dangerous to our life that we know.  And we don't even realize what God is doing, saving us from, or how he is protecting us in the heavenly realms. Just how this driver and passenger from the the car wreck above must have felt when they took in what almost happened to them---take a look at the rest of the picture. This is crazy. This is real.

I realized God may be giving me a new word for the season. SLOW.
(but I also am connected to the word REMAIN).
John 15: 1-5
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

The Next Gap Kid gender is...

My 1 year old's L's

Cutest thing. My daughters L's are are said like Y's.  Every time she talks in her little voice I wanna just stop time.

Here's a few of my favorites:


Yook at me.  (Look at me)

I yike it. (I like it)

Heyyo? (Hello?)

I yove you. (I love you).

Where's my yammy? (Lamby)

Rant: Santa Stance 2.0

I was in Starbucks with my kids the other day. A woman leaned over to our table and made eye contact w/ my 3 year old.

"Is Santa coming to your house to give you gifts this Christmas?"

My three year old was bewildered and averted eye contact to me as if to say, "Help!"

I laughed and told the lady, "Mom and dad give the gifts at our house."

Then she said, "Well.. HE's coming to MY house to drop off gifts."

AWKward. 

Can't you see how this adult perpetuated saga makes for craziness at Christmas. (Why is Santa going to give her gifts and not us? Well, kids...) Thankfully we've had the talk w/ our kids. It's a story, pretend like the princesses of Disney.

I wrote THIS POST on Santa 2 years ago and I still stick with it adding a minor modification. Saint Nick was a real person in history and we should (read in the article below), appropriately reference him. But I don't think it's appropriate to go to all ends to build a child's belief in Santa as necessary part of Christmas because it comes with ramifications. I've heard two stories in the past weeks where preschool parents have had to deal with kids being told (pushed perhaps) at school to believe the story of Santa to the point where it confuses or scares them. (Someone is coming down our chimney? Why does my neighbor get more & better toys from Santa than me?) This brings up the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Leprechaun issue...my kids have enough lies & fears to battle every day I don't need to add to their  thinking that little pixies are flying around their room. (This reminds me a friend made up a story for his toddler to get her off pacifiers. He said a fairy came and took them for other kids to use. Some time later the kid was hoarding her blanket and toys in fear and asked her dad when the fairies were coming to take them to other kids).

This is a must read article. I don't always agree with Pastor Mark Driscoll, but I think he is right on with his (click here) Santa Stance.

S-I-X

I love marriage. Today I honor my wife and in thanks to God celebrate our six years of marriage and 11+ years of friendship.
----
Art that hangs in our room by friend/artist: David Nyquist (painted during our wedding celebration). Inspired by John 15. Our wedding word was: ABIDE. Here's some fave pics of our GTEAM!


11.12.2004 Redwood City Ca


Chicago Dec 2004

London March 2005



Italy May 2006


Hawaii November 2006




Our 1st child is Born. March 2007


Portland April 2007



Las Vegas April 2008




Our 2nd daughter is born February 2009




San Francisco October 2009


Tahoe Summer 2010

Love our family!

Six years, Six amazing years with my wife!
I'm so grateful to have this friendship with Wendy Rose, the most significant relationship of my life!



Here are the vows I said to her on our wedding day six years ago and that I will renew with her this weekend!
I, Anthony James, take you Wendy Rose to be my wife!
I realize God has entrusted you to me as a gift. I commit before God, our family, and friends to love you by first devoting my heart to God, following Jesus Christ, and living in the Holy Spirit.
I love you, and know that I can only do this through God. Because of this, I vow to be your faithful husband to strengthen and forgive you through grace and to give you courage when you need it. I will be your biggest fan. I commit to praying for you and encouraging you to become the woman God created you to be so we can glorify him together (Psalm 34:3).

Me, the Film Critic

Someone gave me a film on DVD and asked me to preview it and give feedback. Man, it was not easy. Here's my response.

Hi __________ thanks for dropping off the DVD.  I appreciate you seeking me out--because film is a huge passion of mine. I did pop it in and watched the first few 15 mins.

Y'know, as a self-proclaimed "film buff, "I  love movies and 1st and foremost I appreciate people trying to make films. It's a lot of hard work to make it all come together. Being a film critic or an American Idol judge is not my intended desire cause I'm more of a pastor and I want to "nurture people." :)--But you asked for some feedback so here goes:I have some thoughts:

-It seemed like the target was teenagers or even younger tweenies---so maybe that's why I hard a hard time jumping into it...and I had a hard time believing the acting, the main girls/boy were big caricatures which serves a point, but maybe is better for something like a youth group sketch--One technical note was that I had was that I had hard time reading the screen during the the online chatting scene. Maybe it was the DVD quality but I'm just saying.

I have to be honest I didn't finish it because my time just feels so precious and can be limiting w/ kids, family, ministry and my own creative pursuits and it didn't grab me in the 1st 15 mins so I didn't finish watching it. I feel bad but I wanted to be honest about my feedback since you asked.

I hope I don't offend you and I don't mean to be presumptuous or arrogant by any means.--but I just read this article passed on by a friend and it made me think of this film:

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/features/23250-why-are-christian-movies-so-bad

I hope this is OK and I would be happy to chat w/ you by phone or even talk w/ the producers of it. I'm no expert, but I love films and have my own experiences w/ film making that give me a somewhat biased opinion. :)

Let me know how/where I can get the DVD back to you.

much thanks
tony

------------
I dont' know how Roger Ebert does it. UG!

Dad Life

This video speaks to my life as a dad, especially to being  a dad with daughters. I loved it my wife and I laughed! :). Hilarious.

(Thanks Uncle Jack).

Gas station glasses..
daughters
manscape
water parks
Minivans..
grills
Disney Videos--(of which, yes, I have cried!).
Nigh-Nigh Songs

Validation

Great little short film on something we all need, (Not just free parking), and how when we get it-or don't get it-it effects others. Moving little piece. You never know how your actions impact others.

VALIDATION

My daughter thinks I'm a vampire

It all started last week when my father-in-law was reading a Sesame Street book to my youngest daughter (1.5). As they were turning pages she pointed to The Count and said, "Daddy."

He alerted us from the living room and we all had a good laugh. Then later in the week my wife noticed my daughter was looking in the Sesame Street books for the purple skinned "Daddy"  on her own. Should I be alarmed? Is it the widow's peak? The goatee? Or maybe it's my Transylvania accent or the way I laugh?? I know I have teeth issues but yikes!!AH-AH-AH!!!

Human Trafficking: Myself

Wow. I have barley blogged this season of life. I have an excuse. It's summer. Summer is like living one full year in the span of ten weeks. It's like the crazy "J Term" college thing (what is that anyway?) where in 3 weeks of class you fulfill a whole semester of credits. Summers with PCC are always amazingly life changing, fun, full of new life and people, and for me and countless others in our church family and staff it means full schedules. That's why I haven't made time to blog. I really haven't had enough time to do a lot of things I wished I could. So the other day I laughed to myself wishing I had a clone and had a sci-fi-like day dream.

I dreamed if I could clone myself-- I could do so much more. I could go to every event I wanted to attend and was unable, participate in all the great happenings summer had to offer. I would make TONY#2 do all the things I can't do in a normal day. I'd (Tony#1) stay home with my wife and kids and send my clone out to make appearances at parties, concerts, hospitals, birthdays, weddings, funerals, meetings etc. Tony#1 would get enough sleep, hang out with people, and still be on top of all the bills while Tony#2 would get up early to work-out (somehow both bodies would share the same affect of exercise) and he would stay up late answering emails, returning calls and texts. I'd even make him get another job to earn some extra money-(cause I've got dental bills to pay) maybe waiting tables cause I've got some experience in that.  Life would be great and with out complaint. Than seriously within minutes it hit me...that I was actually coming up with a plan for trafficking myself. I was dreaming of cloning a being in which to force labor upon him. I actually saw images in my head of ME in chains being ordered around be ME and forcing work on me. Wow. It was time to set me free.

It was a deep moment where I realized the twistedness of my brain. I actually needed to apologize to God and change my thinking!  I'm so prone to feel guilt for things in which I can't do or wish I could do more. If it were up to me (and if I refused to take my wife's wise counsel) I'd be burning my candle at both ends, out every night, "doing great stuff" but depleting myself in an incredibly unhealthy way. This is perhaps a theme and challenge of my life, being STILL (my word for the season) and finding value and worth in God and his love alone. I really enjoy doing things, helping people, and serving but I there are too many good things for one person to be able to do them all. And at times I slip often believing that when  I am doing and working (albeit great things) than I have attained or earned God's love and favor. But God created limitations for good reasons. He created me, all humans,  with a need for sleep, dependence on him and others, and the IN-ABILITY to be omni-present so that others would become interdependent on each other and wouldn't be dependant on one person, especially one pastor. I was humbled as I thought of myself "trying so hard to be like God" that I was even stepping over lines TRYING TO BE GOD. My mind is still wrapping around this. I've had to let things go, disappoint people, and say no (to great "godly" things)  even when it hurts to do so. I'm reminded God calls me to sacrifice but doesn't call me TO BE Him, just BE LIKE Him, and even he rested at creation and Jesus found many moments to rest and pray alone. God I'm sorry. God renew my mind. God, thank you for saving me and creating me, only ONE me. Thank you for setting me free..from me.

Bringing together some of my favorite things

Broadway by The Bay Partners with Boys & Girls' Club from Tony Gapastione on Vimeo.

Inspiration

Anew

Dave Shearin, my good buddy, parter in ministry (Street Church's pastor), makes his acting debut in a beautiful little short film by some friends I have through the Academy of Art! Way to go Andrea & Jae.

Somewhere called STILL

For as long as I can remember being a part of my church family, I have been encouraged to pick a word for each season of life. This summer season it was obvious that God was calling me to be STILL.

There are many ramifications for that. Making time to simply rest. Carving out to be be quiet. Intentionally saying no to busyness..just making time TO BE STILL. The past few weeks, the first few weeks of summer have been crazy, good, busy, a whirlwind. I graduated Seminary, welcomed in our 20 interns, kicked off young adult summer groups, celebrated my 4th Father's day and my birthday (whew)..and now I get some time to actually reflect on it all..

God-ronically, this week coming up with be spent recovering from some mouth surgery will have me laid up this week recovering..and being STILL...to which I'm thinking I should just go with a grill.